He represented himself in the sentencing proceedings, and presented no evidence and called no witnesses. He seemed to resist his lawyers' recommendations to use psychological incapacity as a defense, noted The Hill.

The 22-year-old white male admitted to his crimes in a video recording shortly after he was arrested. In the video, Roof admitted his racist motivations.

“I had to do it because somebody had to,” he said in the confession. "Blacks are raping and killing white people on the streets every day."